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Arthur George Palmer

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Arthur George Palmer (Service no 39089) was a former student of Wharenui School who served in the First World War.

Arthur George Palmer was born in Christchurch on 15 January 1899, the third son of William Richard Palmer and Mary Ann Taylor. The family lived at 52 Wharenui Road and Arthur attended Fendalton School before going to Wharenui School. He worked as a storeman with LB Hart at Lichfield Street, Christchurch.

Arthur enlisted in the army on 6 October 1916. On his enlistment form he stated he was born in 1896, making him three years older than he actually was. His service record states that he was in good physical health, 5' 6" tall,116 pounds with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His religion was recorded as Anglican and he was single when he enlisted. He was put into G Company 22nd Reinforcement and his service commenced on 18 October 1916.

Arthur left New Zealand for overseas service on Troopship No 77, the Mokoia on 12 February 1917 arriving in Plymouth, England on 2 May 1917. Whilst in Sling Camp in England he qualified as a First Class Signaller, responsible for communications between headquarters and the frontline. He rejoined his unit at Brockton Camp in October 1917. On 2 November he arrived at Etaples in France. A week later he joined his batallion in the field and was posted to 4th Batallion Headquarters. This is the period when the NZ division was located in the Ypres salient. On 16 December he was hospitalised and after being in hospital for a week was discharged on Christmas eve.

On the 24 January 1918 he received 7 days Field Punishment No. 2 for falling out of line on a march to the trenches without permission and failing to report in camp. This type of punishment involved hard labour possibly in fetters and handcuffs.

He returned to New Zealand on the S.S. Carpentaria leaving London on 2 April 1919. The ship sailed across the North Atlantic through the Panama Canal and arrived at Lyttelton on 18 May1919. It was a smooth trip and the soldiers were most warmly welcomed back.

Arthur was discharged on 16 June 1919. He had served in the army in New Zealand for 146 days and overseas for 2 years and 96 days. His decorations included a British War Medal and a Victory Medal, given to him on 21 March 1924.

On 20 March 1922, Arhtur married Alice Hill, the youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs H Hill of Addington. They lived at 7 Taylor Street, Christchurch and he worked as an electrician after the war.